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Revelation 5:5-9

Passage:

Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.’

Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne. When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.They sing a new song:

‘You are worthy to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God

saints from every tribe and language and people and nation.

Comment:

Revelation 5 in its entirety describes the situation in the throne room of the Lord, to which John has been lifted to open his visionary revelation. The entire book is filled with symbolism that would have been clear to his intended readers; it's a bit more open to interpretation from a distance of 2,000 years. It seems clear that the Lion and the Lamb are the same being since they are both uniquely empowered to open the scroll containing the elements of our spiritual process. They are, therefore, the Christ—the expression of the Divine that is the true identity of each of us. The constructs of organized religion—represented by the 24 elders (12 tribes of Israel and 12 disciples of Christianity). Its structure of laws and traditions can accomplish much, leading us to the throne room of the Divine. But it is the Christ—the quiet, gentle but powerful Lion/Lamb—that takes us the final steps to the scroll.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed

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